Fishing trip ends in tragedy as 'rogue wave snaps boat in half'
Four people have been confirmed dead and one person is missing after a chartered fishing boat sunk off the coast of New Zealand.
On Monday morning, New Zealand Police confirmed there was an ongoing rescue operation taking place off North Cape, on the country's northern tip, after a report of a vessel in distress on Sunday evening.
Ten people were reportedly onboard at the time. Two bodies were found in the water and recovered by helicopter in the morning, and a third body was found by a vessel which was assisting with the water search.
At 3pm local time, police confirmed the fourth body had been recovered.
Five people were rescued and were taken to Kaitaia Hospital in a stable condition and one person remains unaccounted for.
"Police and Victim Support are contacting the families of those involved in this incident to support them during this incredibly difficult time," police said in a media release.
The fishing boat's emergency beacon was activated at about 8pm on Sunday night, the spokesman for Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre, Nick Burt, said.
A helicopter reached the remote area at about 11.40pm and it was confirmed at 2.30am the boat had sunk.
The fishing boat had left the northern port of Mangonui on Thursday. On board were the captain, a crew member and eight passengers from Auckland.
It has been reported the boat was operated by Enchanter Fishing Charters and was hit by a "rogue wave", which caused the incident.
No one has been identified aside from the captain and senior deckhand, who are among the survivors.
New Zealand's Stuff identified the boat's skipper as Lance Goodhew and the senior deckhand as Kobe O'Neill.
The boat's former skipper, who was not named, spoke to the New Zealand Herald and said Mr Goodhew was respected and well known, and said he had been chartering for a long time.
Iwi leader Penetaui Kleskovic told the New Zealand Herald the boat was met with "torrential weather" and added it was a "miracle" anyone survived.
"It's a dark day for the peninsula community given the maritime tragedy. Condolences and thoughts with all the whanau [family] affected," he said.
According to Stuff, Mr Kleskovic said the "rogue wave" caused the vessel to "snap in half".
Enchanter Fishing Charters was involved in the rescue of survivors from the White Island volcanic eruption in 2019, the publication reported.
- with AAP
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